Boston is the king of pro sports in this country, having won the most major championships of any city in the United States since the turn of the century. But we’re not too shabby in the collegiate sports department either.
Boston remains the top city in the country for men’s college hockey, with Boston University and Boston College consistently vying for national championships. Northeastern too has joined in the ice hockey fun of late as it made the NCAA tournament in two of the last three years and won its first Beanpot in 30 years this past February.
The women’s ice hockey teams at BU and BC are strong as well, as this decade BU appeared in the NCAA national championship game twice and BC appeared in the title game two years ago.
Top program
Flip a coin between BU and BC men’s hockey. Both programs have five NCAA tournament championships to their name, with the Terriers last winning in 2009 and the Eagles last winning in 2012.
Boston College has been better of late, as four of their five national titles have come since 2001. BU has just one national championship this century (2009).
The Terriers still own all-time bragging rights to the Beanpot, however, as they have won the title 30-times. The Eagles are second, having one it 20 times.
Did you know?
That Harvard is a national powerhouse in men’s and women’s squash? The men have won 31 national championships all-time, the most recent coming in 2014. The women have 18 national championships and are the reigning national champs. In fact, the Crimson women have won the national squash title every year since 2015.
Best collegiate venue
If you’ve never been to a football game at Harvard Stadium – go. It’s a time warp as the U-shaped stadium broke ground in 1903 and is home to some of the richest moments in college football history.
Harvard was one of the original dynasties in college football, having won the national championship in 1890, 1898, 1899, 1910, 1912, 1913 and 1919.
Nickerson Field at BU is another great venue as it is located right in the heart of Boston. It’s also the former home ballpark of the Boston Braves. Today it is home to the Terriers’ men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse teams.
For another throwback feel, visit Northeastern’s Matthews Arena for a hockey game. Matthews is the world’s oldest multi-purpose athletic building and has the world’s oldest artificial ice sheet.
Top moment
Boston College football hasn’t been great in a while as the Eagles haven’t reached double-digit wins in a season since Matt Ryan was at The Heights in 2007.
But the Eagles have produced some of the biggest moments in college sports history. Perhaps even the most iconic.
Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan to beat the defending national champion Miami Hurricanes on the day after Thanksgiving in 1984 will live on forever. Sports Illustrated recently ranked the top 100 moments in sports history and Flutie’s Hail Mary checked in at No. 60, ahead of Kirk Gibson’s World Series home run and Carlton Fisk’s game-winning homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series at Fenway.
